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The Lai Chi Wo Rural Cultural Landscape has been awarded the inaugural “Special Recognition for Sustainable Development” in the 2020 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The recognition was given to the HSBC Rural Sustainability Programme initiated and implemented by the Centre for Civil Society and Governance (CCSG) at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) since 2013 with full support from Lai Chi Wo Village and HSBC. The award presentation was held on November 28, 2021 at Lai Chi Wo Village.

The Honourable Bernard Charnwut CHAN, Convenor of the Executive Council of HKSAR, was the Guest of Honour and delivered a keynote speech at the ceremony highlighting the pioneering action model for rural community revitalisation. Dr DUONG Bich Hanh, Chief of Culture Unit at UNESCO Bangkok delivered pre-recorded congratulatory remarks on behalf of UNESCO and commended the innovativeness of the project which shows how principles of sustainable development can mutually reinforce the practice of heritage conservation within and out of the site boundary. Professor David LUNG presented the award on UNESCO’s behalf. Officiating guests included Dr POON Sun Cheong Patrick, Deputy Chairman of HKU Foundation, Professor William HAYWARD, Dean of HKU Social Sciences, Ms Luanne LIM, Interim Chief Executive, Hong Kong, HSBC, as well as Mr TSANG Ah Chat and Mr TSANG Wai-yip, village representatives of Lai Chi Wo.

Professor William Hayward, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, said, “I’m incredibly proud of my colleagues in the Centre for Civil Society and Governance for all their hard work that has led to the Special Recognition for Sustainable Development in the 2020 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. Working hand in hand with Lai Chi Wo Village, and with the generous support from HSBC, this project has set the standard on what can be achieved when we collectively decide to re-imagine traditional activities within ecologically significant areas, and allow people to live in ways that connect with the past yet reflect contemporary needs and opportunities. On behalf of the University of Hong Kong, I’m proud to be associated with this fantastic project.”

Since 2013, HSBC has partnered with the University of Hong Kong to restore Lai Chi Wo by integrating sustainability into cultural heritage conservation. Ms Luanne LIM, Interim Chief Executive, Hong Kong, HSBC, said, “The HSBC Rural Sustainability Programme successfully brings together villagers, farmers, academics, artists, and volunteers for a common purpose, showing the way to sustainable rural development in Hong Kong. Lai Chi Wo also exemplifies the diversity of Hong Kong as a metropolitan city.  We are proud to be able to bring positive change to the community and will continue to work with different stakeholders to build a sustainable future for everyone.”

Lai Chi Wo Village Representative Mr TSANG Wai-yip said, “I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to HKU and HSBC. The transformation of Lai Chi Wo from a deserted village into a vibrant community with United Nations recognitions is the result of many individuals and organisations who have participated in the revitalisation process. I hope the Lai Chi Wo experience can help local and overseas villages find out their ways to sustainable development, and hope the younger and future generations of Lai Chi Wo villagers will be proud of Lai Chi Wo and continue to take care of our beautiful mother village.”

As the Lai Chi Wo rural cultural landscape project emphasises the importance of cross-sector collaboration, the presentation ceremony also hosted a sharing on the project’s impact with representatives from the Environment Bureau, Heung Yee Kuk, HSBC and the CCSG. During the sharing, Professor Wai-Fung LAM, Director of CCSG, introduced the community-based and collaborative approach the project has adopted leading to the revitalisation success; the Secretary for the Environment, HKSAR, Mr WONG Kam-sing expressed the essential role that villages could play in attaining the wider sustainability and carbon neutrality agenda for Hong Kong; Ms Carmen CHAN, representative from Heung Yee Kuk, affirmed the importance of the project in showcasing the new and sustainable possibilities of villages; and Mr Barry KWONG, on behalf of HSBC, reiterated the firm support from the corporate sector in the pursuit of nature-based solutions in tackling global climate change.

The “Special Recognition for Sustainable Development” was newly introduced to the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2020 together with an updated set of Awards Criteria to acknowledge more prominently the role and contribution of cultural heritage to sustainable development within the broader framework of Agenda 2030. The Lai Chi Wo Rural Cultural Landscape project was selected as one of the two winners of this Special Recognition from among 48 entries from nine countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The Jury applauded the Lai Chi Wo project’s pioneering approach to rural sustainability which “upholds the key dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental – in undertaking the holistic rejuvenation of the historic Hakka agricultural settlement using nature-based solutions.” Details of the project can be found at https://ccsg.hku.hk/ruralsd/

Media kit with photos for downloading: https://bit.ly/3CJNL0W

Media enquiries:
Mr Ryan Leung, Centre for Civil Society and Governance, The University of Hong Kong
Tel.: 3917 4905 or 6191 5497
Email: yyan85@hku.hk